Chapter 2

She Has My Face 

Lindsey tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear.  She’d decided on a simple bun for her first day of school. Monday had come too soon.  She’d spent Sunday helping her parents unpack, sort,  hang and clean. Clem made friends with some kids in the neighborhood and disappeared.  

She groaned when she thought of her insensitive brother.  She hoped he was ready or else she’d leave without him.  Breakfast was on the new table but her tummy was full of nerves. 

‘Dad, can I have the car keys?’ Lindsey said.  

Trey stuffed scrambled eggs in his mouth.  ‘In the kitchen. Grab some breakfast first.’ 

‘I’m good Dad. Bye.’ 

‘Love you.’ Trey called.  

Lindsey stopped on the kitchen door, she turned to her Dad and smiled. ‘I love you too Dad.’ The only man she’d ever loved and who loved her in return.  

Before she could grab the keys off the counter, Clem's hand reached out and snatched the keys first. 

‘You didn’t think I’d let you drive, did you?’ Clem said. 

Lindsey rolled her eyes. She pulled on her bag straps and followed Clem out the door. The sun blazed without restrictions in a crystal clear sky. Maybe it was a sign of a good day. 

‘Shoot, I forgot my sandwich.’ 

‘Ugh, Clement. I don’t want to be late.’ Lindsey groaned as he ran back into the house.  

Lindsey walked to the car and leaned against the door. The neighborhood was as quiet as it had been the last few days. Lindsey caught movement in the window of the house next-door. She barely caught the flicker of the curtain.  

Lindsey rubbed her arms and brushed it off as curious neighbors. Hollow Cove was a small town, everyone knew their neighbors. Moments later an old lady in a pink robe appeared on the front porch followed by a tall man in grey flip-flops, plaid pants and a black robe.  They gawked at Lindsey. The woman swatted the man and pointed at her. The man rubbed his eyes and shook his head. 

‘That can’t be her Mah!’ 

‘I’m telling you that’s Leah King.’ 

‘No one ever said she was found!’ 

Lindsey’s blood ran cold. She gripped her bag and ran through the front door.  

She ran to the kitchen and peaked through the window. They still stood there scratching their heads.  

‘Hey honey, have you had breakfast?’ Margret walked into the kitchen with a white robe on.  

The neighbors still stood on the porch,  they pointed at the house but Lindsey couldn’t make out what they said. 

‘Mom the neighbors…’ 

‘Right we haven’t gone by to say hello!  I’ll make them a pie and take it to them this week.’ She poured herself a cup of coffee.  

‘No—’ 

‘You don’t think pie's okay?’ 

‘No!  Mom something happened at the diner on Saturday and the same thing is happening today.’ 

Margret set her cup down on the counter and fixed her eyes on Lindsey. 

‘What happened Lindsey?’ 

Lindsey opened her mouth, but couldn’t form words. Maybe it was nothing, a weird coincidence.  Her Mother waited with her hand on her hip.  

‘Lindsey?’ 

Clem walked in with a sandwich in his mouth. He took a bite and stood beside Lindsey.  

‘Someone thought Lindsey was someone else that’s all. It was nothing.’ 

Margret sighed.  Lindsey shot Clem a look. 

‘Well alright.’ 

‘I wouldn’t say  it was nothing.’ Lindsey mumbled.  

Clem kissed his Mom on the cheek. ‘Later Mom we don’t want to be late.’

He grabbed Lindsey's hand and ushered her out the door. The neighbors had finally gone back inside. Lindsey’s shoulders fell. 

‘Are you trying to make her freak out?’ Clem said. 

‘It wasn’t nothing Clem!  The neighbors ran out of their house and they called me Leah King.’ 

The engine roared to life. ‘There’s got to be an explanation.’ 

They managed to make it to school on time. It had only been a couple of weeks since she was in school but the hustle and bustle of school hallways felt so foreign.  She kept her head down and managed to get to the first period.  

‘See you at lunch?’ Clem asked. 

Lindsey turned to her brother.  ‘Yeah sure.’ 

Lindsey ducked into the bathroom to catch her breath. She fixed her hair and double checked her schedule for her first class. Geometry.  Everyone was already in class. So much for not wanting to be late. 

The door to the class room was open. The teacher was already at the board with a massive textbook in hand. She exhaled and knocked on the door. 

The tall man with a bald head threw his head back and sighed. Lindsey cringed. He slammed his book shut and turned to the door. His eyes turned to saucers. The whole class gasped and the teacher dropped his book. 

‘Leah King!’ 

Not again. 

Lindsey stumbled into the hall. ‘No, I’m not!  My name’s Lindsey.  Lindsey Goodman.’ 

Students hopped out of their seats,  stuck out their necks as far as they could go. 

‘Lindsey? You look just like Leah King. It’s incredible.’ He shook his head. He crept toward Lindsey. Her legs were ready to bolt. 

Students flooded the doorway with faces of shock and tears.  Mr. Harper’s attempts to control his class were a failure. He was outnumbered. Lindsey bumped into a wall, all eyes were on her.  

Mr. Harper abandoned his class and ushered Lindsey away. He led her to the principal’s office. Lindsey’s body quaked under the teacher's safe embrace.  

He locked the door behind him.  

‘What’s the matter Mr. Harper?’ She rose from her chair, her eyes landed on Lindsey and she fell back down.  

‘When? How?’

Lindsey read the name on the desk as simply Principal Monica. She had long black hair, a wide bust and small a waist. She was likely in her late thirties. 

Mr. Harper shook his head. ‘No, who. She’s Lindsey Goodman or so she says.’ 

Monica rubbed her temple and froze.  ‘Goodman? You have a brother who’s a senior?’ 

Lindsey nodded.  ‘I’m Lindsey Goodman. I’m new here. I don’t get why everyone keeps calling me Leah. Everyone in town!’

Mr. Harper and Monica exchanged a glance. Monica motioned for Lindsey to take a seat. Her legs felt like jelly and her stomach was in notes. She accepted the seat.  

‘I’m sorry honey. You’d understand if you knew the resemblance between you too. Would you like to go home while we try to defuse the situation?’ 

‘It’s only the first period but I’m sure word's already out.’ Mr. Harper said. 

Lindsey wanted to fly back to Florida!  She bit her lip.  If she closed her eyes people still stared back. She shook her head. Margaret would freak out, she’d worry and who knew what she would do. 

‘I’m sure everything will be fine. I don’t want my parents to worry they’re busy enough with their restaurant.’ 

Monica offered Lindsey a smile. Hollow High only got less than a handful of new students every few years. This year they had three and two of them were siblings.  

Monica told Lindsey she could hide out in the library if she still felt uncomfortable. Mr. Harper locked the door behind Lindsey again.  

‘The hair's different.’ Monica planted her hands on her hips.  

‘Hair can be changed!  Everything else’s the same!’ 

Monica scratched her head.  ‘It’s like seeing a ghost. I think we should call the police. They’ve got to know about this.’ 

Mr.  Harper bobbed his head.  He glanced back at the door.  It was like seeing a ghost. Could it be possible Leah King wasn’t dead at all?  Lindsey Goodman could be an adopted persona to fool the town.